Pulham Market Health Walk 270510

A health walk today form Pulham Market just off the A140, south after Long Stratton.

A beautiful thatched village complete with thatched pub, The Crown. From the green we went East along Barnes road into the countryside and then into the delightfully named Duck's Foot road. Eventually a track on our left took us onto Boudica's Way. This long distance path runs from Norwich to Diss. On reaching Boudica's way we then turned south to head back  to Pulham Market. The path meandered alongside a stream with a great little one plank bridge, well made and with substantial hand rails, we emerged by the Pulham Market bowls club. A lovely piece of countryside. Coffee afterwards in the pub, The Crown where the landlord was a good host and made us welcome. I may well return.
Behind the pub is a wonderful church with a superb wooden roof and mural, well worth a look.
Feedback welcome!
Stuart

Marriotts Way Health Walk 140510

This  Health Walk took us from the car park in Westwick Street, across the road by Halfords and then along the Marriotts way footpath, originally the railway line into Norwich. Suddenly you find yourself leaving the busy traffic and you are surrounded by lush green, trees and birdsong, the traffic has become a quiet rumble in the background. The footpath follows the river Wensum, taking you past industrial units but still you remain in a green corridor. Norwich should be proud how this this lovely established route has been kept for walkers and cyclists to enjoy. On your way the first bridge you come to allows you to turn right and cross Andersons Meadow. From there you can cross the road (Mile Cross) walk over the bridge and there is a gap in the fence leading you down to a path by the river and many trees. You can carry on here, do a loop and return back down the track. Make it a as long or short as you want.Its lovely!
This is a link to Google Map. The walk starts form the car park in Westwick street by the junction with Barn road. next to New Mills Yard. Fingers crossed that it works!!

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Stuart

Boatshed! 060510

I just had to take this picture at Rockland St Mary. A  visual play on words I think! Boatshed

Ashby St Mary near Thurton, Norfolk 060510

2.4 Miles Ref 022329
Today took me just off the A146 at Thurton to Ashby St Mary. Parking with narrow lanes and no village hall. I do love village halls for their easily accessible car parks during the quiet mid-week. I eventually squeezed myself on to the edge of a field entrance trying carefully to avoid obstructing Mr Farmer.
The path starts near the side of the church and takes you northwards to Claxton. Unusually for Norfolk this area is partly rolling countryside, paths go up and down and the views are superb.From Claxton I made my way to St Andrews the church of Claxton where someone had kindly installed a bench for me to enjoy lunch on, in the sun but shaded form the cold wind. I had to put gloves on today despite the sunshine,.
Footpath difficulties!
Leaving the church behind me I  crossed the road and followed the footpath sign but where the path went seemed very unclear. Navigation by pylons took me to a point where I could see the path I needed would intersect but it took a bit of walking across ploughed fields to get there. The next footpath was clearly marked with a new post and took me across an otherwise unmarked growing crop. Without the post I would have been a bit stuck and without these markers parts of the countryside could slowly become lost to all of us.

A good walk , navigation challenges are interesting and often give me a  great sense of achievement once I have eventually found my way.

Often I tell myself "Perhaps your map reading skills are not as good as you thought!" But then that spurs me on to get some more practice in, don't panic, look at that map and what is around me! Landmarks, contours, fields, woods, everything and don't panic!
Can anyone tell me what these pinky blooms are?
Stuart

Norwich, Mousehold Heath, The Wensum, Rosary Cemetry, Lion Wood 040510

4.5 Miles Map Ref 243094
A circular walk in Norwich starting from Brittania Barracks on the North East side of Norwich with a fabulous vantage point to overlook this "Fine City." From here you see two Cathedrals, the "Roman" columns of City Hall, the City Hall Clock Tower, the Jarrolds printing works the whole panorama of this fine city.
This walk is taken from "Walks Around Norwich" by the Ramblers Association Norfolk and my grateful thanks to them. Ramblers publications seem always to be very reliable in describing their walk routes and they choose some excellent walks too. So look out for their little booklets and buy when you can!

The walk takes me through the trees of Mousehold Heath, I can still hear traffic in the distance as I am so close to some major roads but I am delighted to once again be surrounded with bird song celebrating this lovely day.
Following around Mousehold I am then directed to several paths, lanes and streets to bring me to Riverside road and the path along the river. The quintessential Norwich School playing fields with today a helicopter! I hear the Queen is in the City so perhaps its the Royal Flight! Bishops Bridge which was once the heavily guarded gateway to Norwich, Pulls Ferry and the lovely waters of the river Wensum.

 From here I am directed up Aspland Road to Rosary road and then past the Chalkhill Brewery to Rosary Cemetery on the other side of the road. . You would not know without visiting that this large cemetery exists in such a built up area. It rambles over hillocks and troughs with many many trees. Most of the gravestones are weathered and green but interspersed are some very new, clean and bright ones. Some lean over at odd angles, some graves are slowly reverting to the earth. This is not to me a sign of neglect but a very powerful way of showing the passage of time and our own brief time on this precious earth.
I go through this extensive cemetery and cross a road to Lion Wood. Here I missed my directions and bore to my right too much to end  up on the Yarmouth Road. I then had the "delight" of walking up the very steep Harvey Lane to get back to where I should be. Legs aching now! From there I return to that viewpoint of Britannia Barracks.
But despite this a very good day exploring parts of Norwich I had not seen before.
My last picture is taken as I enjoy a coffee in one of the many cafes by the market. Norwich is so colourful!
Stuart